Building unit



J. R. MCPHERSON lBUILDING UNIT Filed June 29, 1929 July 8, 1930.

`july 8, 1930. J, MCPHERSON 1,770,082

BUILDING UNI'I1 Filed June 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 71 U6 71 fo 7* Jil. iii CIJ/1e zwaai d in 742763 Patented July 8, 1930 'rss PATENT oF Flc-E JOHN R. MCIHERSON, OF JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS vBUILDING UNIT Appiieation inea June'ze,

In structural concrete 'world ithas long been the aim of builders toV eliminate the usuallumber shell or' form into which the concrete isfirst poured and which is afterwardsstripped away from the concrete when the concrete has set. -Aside from the matter of lumber cost itself and the time-involved, the labor charges for erecting and removing suoli form or shell is avery considerable item in the total cost of the work. Y

My invention involves apre-cast building unit which ischaracterized by certain novel features both as regards the construction ofy the units themselves and the method of as sembling the same in spa-ced parallel interlocked courses.

In accordance with my general concept, my pre-cast units are veach constructed with interlocking or inter-engaging abutments which when a double course of such units is laid constitute elements performing the double function of tiesfor retaining the courses against collapse while the units are being laid and of spreaders for preventing the 5 units from expanding outwardly under the Ypressure of the concrete filling after the courses have been laid and the concrete lilling poured between the units, thus avoiding the necessity. ofproviding independent tiesV and spreaders which must be separately placed in position and assembled before the `concrete-is poured. i f

The units may befurtlier reinforced both longitudinally and transversely by metallic reinforcing elements embedded longitudinally therein and in the offset abutment lugs, and such longitudinal and transverse reinforcing .elements inayl be either asingle length of metal embedded in the units longitudinally thereof and bent at its ends to extend through the lugs, or. the lug reinforcements may be separate from thelongitudinal reinforcements. In addition, the opposing units of the double course of units may if desired be continuouslytied4 together by longitudinal. ties independent of and additional tothe reinforcements of the units themselves. In the accompanying drawings, IV have shown several forms of pre-castunits con- 1929. Serial No. 374,750.

structed and assembled in accordance with the principles of my invention.

In such drawings :e 3

Fig. lfs a fragmentary perspective View of a wall constructed with one form ofpre-cast unit in accordance with my present invention, and particularly showing the inter locking relation of such units.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through such wall.

Fig. 3 is avertical section showing a combination foundation and wall construction built with such units.

Fig. ff is a detail perspective view of one of the units shown in Figs. l-to 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryv horizontal section through a wall built with a slightly different form of pre-cast unit. Y

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a still further modification of the unit structure.

Fig. 7 isa detail perspective view of one of the units shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of one of the units shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 `is a View similar to Figs. 5 and 6 but showing a further modification of unitstructure, and

. Fig. l0 is a View similar to Figs. 7 and 8 of one of the units shown in Fig. 9. K'

My pre-cast unit-s are molded of concrete by methods and apparatus described and claimed in my companion application for p atent and when formed present smooth finished inside andoutside surfaces. i The units are duplicates, and may therefore 'be'interchange ably used regardless of location, i. e., whether in the inner or the outer courses of the wall, Y in foundation or aboveground courses, or in stretches or at corners.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, each unit consists of a slab l of molded concrete, preferablygenerally rectangular in form and relatively narrow in thickness. As such it presents opposite longitudinal edges 2 and 3, which are ,respectivelyl tongued and grooved as shown in Fig. 4l, and end edges l and 5 which are similarly tongued and grooved as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

. Intermediate of its edges, said slab is `formed on its inner face With one or more oil'- set abutments which functionally act as combination ties and spreaders and structurally i If desired, theV slab as a Whole and the lugs v 6 individually may'be longitudinally andV "transverely reinforced as best indicated in Figs. 2 and 4.

nient may bejapair ofspaced: reinforcing` 1 may convenientlytalre the form of horizontallyf projecting lugsG cast integral with the 'slabl.fy

As here shoivnyea'ch unitl is provided with a` pair ofsymmetrically spaced lugs 6 and eachlug is formed With an undercut locl'ing shoulder `7- on @one ofits transverse faces.

Structurally such reinforce- Y Wires 8 embedded inthe slab 1 longitudinally A.. .units -in the saine course both endvvise and; at

thereof. These Wiresgare inset sufficiently from the longitudinal edges of-lthe slab to 1intersect the bases ofthe lugs ,65, Wherethey are bent up on themselves and extended outwardly through the lugs, thus .to reinforcefthe same. In constructmga Wall With suchvunits, the units are laidin spaced parallelinner and outcouises with lthe shoulders 7 of the lugs Aof' opposing units inthe twol courses interloclred with eachother across the space separating the'courses, 'as clearly shown inFig". 2, and'r with the tongue and grouvededges ofthe units in each course interlocked YWithadj acent" topVv and bottom.'

The units ofthe samey course are thus, in-

' vterloclrcd Withcach other and with opposing units in theopposite course Without the necessity of 'employing any separate ties orspreaders, the lugsG themselves serving as spreadors While the courses .are being laidto hold the slabs properly spaced apartfrom each other and as'ties after the concrete or other cementitious filling C is deposited between the courses to prevent the coursesfrom buckling outwardly under theinternal pressure of the filling. llVhen thus assembled, the units are bonded'togetherasa homogeneous Whole by the filling C. f

` VIf desired, however, the fillingv C maybe` omitted in which event the interlocking action alone ofthe lugs vvillhold the units inV proper assembly, and the spaces between the lugs of opposite unitsin the double course Will constitute spaceslfor air circulation.l

This is shown in-Fig. 3,."Wherein a combina- *tion foundation andvvall structure is` illustrated, that part of the Wallbelow the ground level being indicated as solidly lilledwith concrete or the like, C and that part above the ground being indicated as unfilled.

1 In lthe form Aof my invention shown in Figs. 5, and the units 1.are formed with horizontal lugs ,9 Whichgare longitudinally pierced as at 10.` Villien a double course of these units is laid, thelugs of opposing units in the courses abut each other endvvise, as shown in Fig. 5. and are secured together by In the form of my 'Figs-'9 mdo the unitsl are provided with ties 11 which may be simple Wires looped through the holes of abutting lugs and twisted uponthemselves as indicated at 12. Y In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the units 1 are formed with spaced horizontal lugs 13 which are longitudinally pierced by alinedholes 14. In this form, the lugs of opposing units in the double course overlap each other laterally, as shown in Fig.6 p vWhen the course is laid, and the entire assembly iis. secured. together by; longitudinal tiev Wires 15 which are passed continuouslyy through the registering holes 14 of the oppos- "ing lugs. These holes may be lined With metal or other bushings 16 embedded therein during the process of moulding the units 1.-

j In this formof my invention, I have also shown longitudinal fand transverse reinforcements for` theunit-s and lugs which are generallysimilarftothose shown inFigs. .1f to 4 but with thisV difference, that. thetransverse reinforcernentsv 17 embedded inthe lugs 13 'arey separate from the longitudinal.reinforcements 18 embedded inthe slabsrpropenthe reinforcements 17 being infact substantially U-shaped Wires having` their openends bent around .the longitudinal reinforcements 18 as best shown in Fig.V 8. Y

invention shown in spacedliori/jontal metallic lugs 19 casttherein during the process of-moulding the units.

As in the form shovvn in Figs. 6 and,r the, lugs of opposing units in the double course What I therefore claim and elesirevt-ov secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In building construction, a Wall `comprising spaced parallel courses of pre-cast building-units, each unit consisting of a relatively thinelongated slab kof generally rectangular form havinga lug projecting horizontally therefrom at substantially right angles to the plane of the unit,- and the lugs of theunits in one course engaging those of the opposite units in the other course in direct interloclred relation across the space'separating said courses, all side portions of each lug beingdisposedin spaced relation to all of the side edges of the slab from which the lug projects. y i p 2. In building construction, a Wall comprising spaced parallel courses of pre-cast building units, each unit consisting of a relatively thin lelongated slab of generally rectangular form having a lug projecting horizontally therefrom at substantially right `aneVV gles to the plane of the unit, said lug having a lateral extension providing a shoulder disposed in spaced relation to the slab and substantially parallel to the plane thereof for direct interlocking cooperation with the shoulder of the corresponding lug of an opposite slab for holding the slabs of the two courses of units against separation relative to one another.

8. A building unit, consistingy of a'relatively thin elongatedslab of generally rectangular form, and a combination tie and spreader lug projecting horizontally from said slab at'substantially right angles thereto, said lug having a lateral extension providing a shoulder disposed in spaced relation to the slab and substantially parallel to the plane thereof for direct interlocking engagementwith a similar shoulder on the lug of an, opposite unit. y

4f. A building unit consisting of a relatively thin elongated slab having a combination tie and spreader lug projecting horizontally therefrom at right angles to the plane of the slab and adapted to overlap a similar lug projecting from an opposite unit when the unitsare laid in spaced parallel courses, said lug having a shoulder disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the slab for direct interlocking engagement with a similar shoul der on the lug of an opposite unit.

In testimony whereof Ivaiix my signature.

JOHN R. MCPHERSON. 

